Super Bowl 50 recap: Broncos' defence shuts down Panthers

Coming into Super Bowl XLVIII two years ago, Peyton Manning's Denver Broncos had the NFL's top-ranked offence, but that wasn't enough to help them overcome the league's leading defence in the Seattle Seahawks.

On Sunday, at Super Bowl 50, Manning and the Broncos' position had flipped -- they were defensive juggernauts -- and so did the results. The Broncos came out on top, stifling a supercharged Carolina Panthers' attack in a 24-10 win.

The Broncos' defence was led by linebacker and Super Bowl MVP Von Miller who forced two fumbles to set up Denver's two touchdowns.

The win also gives Manning two Super Bowl rings. The five-time MVP is the most the decorated quarterback in NFL history and is the league's record holder in many individual passing categories, but had won only one Super Bowl in three appearances, which led many critics to place him behind long-time rival Tom Brady as greatest quarterback of their generation.

After the victory, the 40-year-old Manning, who has hinted that this could be his "last rodeo," was noncommittal about potentially retiring, saying that he is going to "take some time to reflect."

Revisit our game live blog below:

10:22 p.m.: It's official: The Denver Broncos have won Super Bowl 50.

10:20 p.m.: Broncos coach Gary Kubiak gets the Gatorade dump. For those wondering, it was orange.

10:12 p.m.: The Broncos defence shreds the Panthers' offensive line, as Ware sacks Newton deep in their territory. The Panthers are forced to punt the ball with less than two minutes remaining.

10:08 p.m.: Manning hits Bennie Fowler for the two-point conversion, 24-10 Broncos with just over three minutes left in the game.

10:05 p.m.: After a penalty on the Panthers' defence for holding, Anderson goes up the middle for a touchdown.

10:00 p.m.: Miller does it again. He strips Newton on 3rd down, and the fumble is recovered by the Broncos.

9:54 p.m.: This game has been dominated by the defences, and both offences have failed to convert when it matters. The teams have gone a combined 4-for-25 on third down conversions.

9:53 p.m.: The Broncos will have the ball with just over seven minutes left in the game.

9:43 p.m.: Gano nails a 39-yard field goal to cut the lead to six. Panthers trail the Broncos 10-16.

9:36 p.m.: Manning is stripped of the ball by defensive end Kony Ealy, and the Panthers recover the ball. Ealy has three sacks in the game.

9:33 p.m.: Manning hits Emmanuel Sanders with a pass for a 16-yard gain. The Panthers also take 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty.

9:28 p.m.: Newton is sacked by Miller and defensive end Derek Wolfe, and the Panthers are forced to turn over the ball.

9:27 p.m.: Neither quarterback is having a substantial impact on the game. Newton is 14 for 31 for 218 yards with one interception, while Manning is 11 for 20 for 123 yards with a pick.

9:19 p.m.: Anderson muscles his way through the Panthers' defence for a 13-yard carry.

9:15 p.m.: Newton picked off after making some nice throws on a long drive downfield.

9:08 p.m.: The Broncos' drive downfield ends with another McManus field goal. Denver stretches the lead to nine. 16-7 Broncos.

9:00 p.m.: Gano's missed field goal is the first in the Super Bowl since Shaun Suisham missed a kick in Super Bowl XLV.

8:45 p.m.: Coldplay kicked off the Super Bowl halftime show with a performance of their 2008 hit "Viva La Vida." Bruno Mars then played his Grammy-nominated track "Uptown Funk." Afterwards, Beyonce took to the field to perform her new song "Formation." All three performers then came together onstage to sing Coldplay's "Up and Up," while a tribute video honoured famous halftime acts from the past.

8:19 p.m.: Broncos' defensive end Demarcus Ware sacks Newton to close out the second half, as the Panthers fail to get into scoring position.

8:16 p.m.: Newton proceeds to connect with rookie receiver Devin Funchess for a 24-yard gain, which is the longest play of the game so far.

8:15 p.m.: The Panthers are struggling to find their rhythm on offence and Newton calls a timeout. The Panthers' quarterback has missed on his past five throws.

8:02 p.m.: Manning picked off by the Panthers. He had thrown 91-straight passes without an interception.

8:00 p.m.: Broncos' running back C.J. Anderson manages to break through the Panthers' defence for a 34-yard gain.

7:57 p.m.: The Panthers turn it over again after a hit by Bronco's defensive back Darian Stewart forces a fumble.

7:56 pm.: Newton ruled down by contact after a 14-yard run. Broncos also pick up a penalty for unnecessary roughness for a late hit.

7:52 p.m.: McManus' field goal extends the Broncos' lead to six. The Broncos are ahead 13-7.

7:47 p.m.: Broncos' Jordan Norwood returns a punt deep into Panthers' territory. It is the longest punt return in Super Bowl history.

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Photos

Denver Broncos’ T.J. Ward (43) celebrates with Darian Stewart (26) after Ward recovers a fumble during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 50 football game on Feb. 7, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif. (Matt York / AP Photo)